Practice Opinion Introductions (Lead + Thesis Statement = Intro): Due Friday, February 8, 20192/3/2019 For the last few weeks, our focus has been on writing opinion essays and learning about persuasive techniques.
For your blog this week, please come up with an opinion and write only an introduction (lead and thesis statement). You can choose anything you'd like, but it must be a new topic and not one you've written about before. :) 1. Choose a topic (see ideas below) 2. Write a strong lead (at least 3-4 sentences) 3.) Write a clear thesis statement (three reasons separated by a comma) Example: I’ll never forget the first time my dog came home. It was Christmas morning and I never thought in my life that I would get a dog. My parents pulled across a bright red and green box. It sat still in the living room, until, all-of-a-sudden, the box moved! Yes, moved. My sister and I jumped and then popped the top open! It was a puppy! Its brown eyes looked at us lovingly as the fluff ball jumped into my arms. Best Christmas ever! I’m so grateful our parents chose a dog and not a cat. Dogs are better than cats because dogs are more entertaining, they’re more lovable, and they’re cleaner. Topic Ideas (or choose your own!) School should/shouldn’t be optional. We should/shouldn’t have homework. Students should/shouldn’t have to learn a second language. All cars should/shouldn’t be painted yellow. We should/shouldn’t be allowed to chew gum in school. Our pets should/shouldn’t be allowed to come to school. We should/shouldn’t be allowed to wear hats in school. All fast food/coffee drive throughs should/shouldn’t be banned. School should/shouldn’t be shorter days without recess. We should/shouldn’t be able to sit beside our friends in class. We should/shouldn’t be able to eat in class. We should/shouldn’t have school uniforms. We should/shouldn’t have the option of doing school online. Fast food should/shouldn’t be banned. Cell phones should/shouldn’t be allowed at school. Persuade somebody to give you a job. You’re a banker, you need to persuade others to hand over their money. Persuade your friends to volunteer at a pet shelter. Which are better: hard copy books or the e-reader version? Reading books is better than watching shows. Video games are helpful or harmful. Girls should be allowed to play on boy’s teams. Students should be paid for getting great grades.
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Our blog this week focuses on the many themes in the book Wonder, by RJ Palacio. Remember, a theme is the lesson or message of the text (many people confuse theme with main idea, but remember the main idea is what the story is mostly about). Use the list of themes below to help.
1.) Choose a theme you think relates to Wonder. 2.) Explain why you chose this theme and use text evidence to support your thinking. 3.) Include the title and author. Example: One of the many themes in the book, Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed, is hope. In a culture where girls don't always have the same opportunities to education as boys, Amal maintains hope that even after missing school to tend to her siblings, she can get back to school. Her hope waivers, but never disappears after her life is altered when standing up for herself in the marketplace. Amal always carries hope that she'll return to her family one day after becoming a servant to the Khans. As we continue to read Wonder both at school and home, your assignment this week is to summarize a section you have read so far (one or more chapters).
Don't forget TAMI (TITLE, AUTHOR, MAIN IDEA) and SOMEBODY, WANTED, BUT, SO THEN) Example of Summary: In the book, Amal Unbound, by Aisha Saeed, the main idea is about a young girl whose life is altered after she is forced into indentured servitude after insulting the town landlord. Amal wanted to become a teacher and poet, but when she unintentionally insults Jawad Sahib, she is forced to live with and serve him. So, Amal goes to live with the Sahib family. She longs to return home and continue to pursue her dreams as a teacher. Then, after years of serving, Amal is set free and returns to her family. LeadsThis week, we will focus on writing leads. Leads are an important part of writing. A strong lead grabs readers' attention and makes them want to read more.
Here is your assignment this week: 1.) Read the lead to your book (the first sentence or paragraph of the book) 2.) Type the lead in your response 3.) Determine the type of lead (use the image below to help) 4.) Answer this question: Is the lead in your book effective (does it work)? Does it make you want to keep reading? Why? Why not? Be specific. Example: Wonder by RJ Palacio: "I know I'm not an ordinary ten-year old kid. I mean, sure I do ordinary things. I eat ice cream. I ride my bike. I play ball. I feel ordinary. Inside. But I know ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. I know ordinary kids don't get stared at wherever they go" (p.3). This lead from the book, Wonder, by RJ Palacio introduces a character. I know this because Palacio describes the main character, Auggie in the first paragraph. I do think this is an effective lead because it makes me want to learn more about the kid who "makes other ordinary kids run away screaming." If you finish a book over winter break, write a summary here!
Remember, TAM (Title, Author, Main Idea, and Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then) In our final blog of 2018, you are being asked to explain (using RACE), how the problem of your book club book is solved (falling action). Be sure to include the title and author, as well as a quote and a page number to support your thinking.
Example: In the book, Because of Mr. Terupt, by Rob Buyea, Jeffrey's main problem is solved when Mr. Terupt enters his life and introduces him to the Collaborative Classroom. Jeffrey's classmates are suddenly exposed to Jeffrey's kindness when they witness the way he treats other students in the Collaborative Classroom. This, in turn, allows him to have a discussion with Jessica opening up about his family situation. In the end, Jeffrey helps his parents focus on living, and understands what happened with his brother is not his fault, "Dad, it's not your fault...Son, it's not your fault either" (p. 206). This quote shows Jeffrey mending the relationship with his family. As we continue to read our book club books, our focus this week is on the 'rising action' of the story mountain. Remember that "Rising action includes all of the plot point after the exposition and before the climax. Rising action is where characters and conflict are developed. There is no set length for rising action, rather, its length is determined by when the climax occurs" (from Writing Explained."
Your job this week is to identify the rising action of your story, in other words, what is the conflict/problem of the story so far. 1.) Identify the conflict/problem in your story so far. 2.) Use at least one quote to support your thinking (and page number) 3.) Include the author and title of your book. Example: There are many conflicts in the book, Because of Mr. Terupt, by Rob Buyea. Each character is dealing with his or her own issues. One of the problems for Jeffrey is that he hates school and has a difficult family life; his parents are depressed because they lost a child, and Jeffrey blames himself. For example, ADD QUOTE. This quote shows that Jeffrey carries a lot of guilt after losing Michael. As we get our book club books underway, we will circle back around to focusing on narrative writing and story mountains. This week, our focus is on the exposition (the way the author sets up the story including setting and characters).
Here is your assignment: 1.) Using your book club book, explain the exposition of your book. This means you must include a description of the setting and the main character. Example: In the book, Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea, the setting is at Snow Hill School in Connecticut. Many of the scenes are set in Mr. Terupt's classroom, as well as in the characters' homes including Anna's, Jeffrey's, Jessica's, and Mr. Terupt's hospital room. There are seven main characters in this book including Anna, Jessica, Jeffrey, Peter, Luke, Alexia, and Danielle. This completes the exposition of the book Because of Mr. Terupt. This week we are discussing the difference between a retell and a summary. Remember that a RETELL includes DETAILS and a SUMMARY is only the BIG IDEAS (think running along the details and jumping from big idea to big idea like we did in class!).
Using the book you're reading at home, write a summary based on the section you read this week. FOR FICTION: Include the title, author, main idea and SOMEBODY, WANTED, BUT, SO, THEN. FOR NONFICTION: Include the title, author, main idea and three details to support your main idea using words such as first, next, then, and finally. Fiction Example: In the book, The Willoughbys, by Lois Lowry, the main idea is about kids who want to get rid of their parents, and the parents who want to get rid of their kids. In chapter 4, entitled "The Odious Nanny", Nanny joins the Willoughby family. The children want to test Nanny to see what she'll be like compared to their parents. Barnaby A and B and Jane like Nanny, but Tim is not so sure. (So) When Nanny learns about Tim's point game, she quickly gives the others points for trying their oatmeal, and takes points away from Tim for not eating his. Then, Tim scowls as he realizes the power he holds over his siblings is quickly deteriorating under Nanny's rules. Nonfiction Example: In the article, "Susie Sausage Just One of Many New Shopkins Toys," by writers at the Washington Post, the main idea is how Shopkins have become a popular, best-selling toy in 2016. First, Shopkins are tiny toys that look like something you can find at a grocery store like cookies and carrots. Next, many believe that Shopkins are popular because they are easy to collect and the company wanted to cater to girls. In addition, the company is creating a new toy about every six months, which maintains interest. Finally, Shopkins are one of the toys on the "Hot Toy List" that also sell at an inexpensive price. (See the article here: https://newsela.com/articles/shopkins-toys/id/24269/) Our focus this week is determining the main idea. The main idea is what the text is "mostly about."
Here's the assignment: Using the book you're reading at home: 1.) State the main idea of your book (what is the book mostly about?) 2.) Support the main idea with details and specific evidence from the text (RACE). 3.) Include the title and the author. Example: In the book, The Willoughbys, by Lois Lowry, the main idea is the adventures of four children who want to get rid of their parents, and the parents who want to get rid of their children. I know this because the story includes many descriptions, particularly at the beginning, of kids who don't like their mom and dad, and vice versa (dark humor!). For example, Mrs. Willoughby states, "I never much liked those kids, especially the ones who look alike! What are their names?" (p.19). Similarly, the kids want to get rid of the parents, "We should send them on a vacation! One with lots of danger!" (p.21). This shows the children were trying to get their parents into trouble so they would not ever return. |
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